Mrinalini Sarabhai – the classical Indian dancer, choreographer and legendary teacher, was awarded the Padma Shri in 1965 and Padma Bhushan in 1992. Google Doodle on Friday celebrated the 100th birth anniversary of Mrinalini Sarabhai. The doodle shows Mrinalini Sarabhai with her signature parasol while her students are dancing on stage in the background.
She was born on 11th May 1918 in Kerala. Her father S Swaminathan was a barrister at Madras High Court whereas her mother A V Ammakutty was a freedom fighter. She was inspired by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore.
She completed her training in Kathakali from Guru Thakazhi Kunchu Kurup and Bharatnatyam under Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai. She married Vikram Sarabhai- a prominent scientist and visionary, founder of the Indian Space Program and co-founder of the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad (IIMA) in 1942 and Vikram Sarabhai supported Mrinalini Sarabhai in her ambition for attaining perfection in dance.
She founded Darpana Academy of performing Arts to train the students in music, dance, drama and puppetry, in Ahmedabad, Gujrat in 1948.
Mrinalini Sarabhai’s daughter Mallika Sarabhai is carrying forward her legacy. Her son – Kartikeya Sarabhai is founder of Centre of Environment Education (CEE).
She breathed her last on 21st January 2016. She was 97.